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This page is constantly growing, and more will be added as contributions come in. If you have anything you would like to contribute, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
About the Raouls in the novels:
"A spoiled nobleman after a pretty girl for I get the sense that although he did think he loved Christine, could have gotten over her in time if she had stayed with Erik [but couldn't Erik do the same?]. For the r'word [some people even refuse to say Raoul], she was a pretty girl, and, compared to Erik's love, not much. For Erik, of course, Christine's leaving was the coup to end all his life . . . this one he could not recover from. He had invested a strength, hope, love, heart, soul, body and life that he had in Christine. What she did to him was the same as if she ripped his heart out."
"The problem is that Erik cared about the girl much more than Raoul ever could [why?]"
"I think that people dislike Raoul because he is Erik's rival, and by taking Christine away from Erik he causes more pain...I dislike him in a theory because he makes things even harder for Erik."
"I personally don't like Raoul much because I feel he viewed Christine as more of a conquest, a trophy to be kept away from his rival, Erik, than as his true love."
"There is both a good and bad side to the Raoul, Vicomte de Changny. For one he was a very determined young who probably wanted to do things for Christine with her best interest in mind. But as taking her away from Erik was one of these things, he did not have much consideration for the man who had taught her to sing so well and had shared with her all of his extreme genius.
Raoul did have alot to offer her, as he was a young, courageous, smart, good looking and a wealthy man. But he could have married most anyone he wanted, as for Erik could only marry someone with enough compassion to see past his face and into the actual caring and loving man he could be if someone would give him a chance. Thus forth, Erik needed Christine more then Raoul, whereas Raoul wanted Christine for himself."
About the Stage Raouls:
Names are withheld for ovbious reasons. Keep in mind that every actor has his good and bad nights.
"Like during "All I Ask of You" he got down on his knee and spread his arms out as if he were saying 'Christine, look at my impressive wing-span. I'm the man for you' in this superhero voice....arm around the waist like he was claiming her."
"OK, confession time. I've never been particularly fond of Raoul,
probably because depending on how the actor interprets him, he either comes off like an idiotic pretty boy at best and an arrogant jerk at worst. Anyway, here are the main reasons why I find Erik far superior to Raoul:
1.) As far as heroism goes, Raoul is terribly ineffective. I
mean, at the end of the story he goes to rescue Christine-knowing that he is up against a man who is desperate, ruthless, powerful, and to top it all of is at the moment very on edge (Yes, that's an understatement). He also knows that Erik, to put it mildly, does not like him very much. Despite this, when Raoul arrives in Erik's lair it isn't two minutes before he's in much bigger need of a rescue than Christine ever was. "My hero" indeed-UGH! Why should Christine pin her hopes on a guy who can barely take care of himself?
2.) Raoul, as far as I can tell, never gets it. By that I mean
he doesn't understand that everything Erik does is for love of Christine. Even after Erik releases Christine, Raoul seems to be incapable of seeing him as anything but a monster. (This is one of the reasons I like Kay's novel so much, because eventually Raoul does figure it out, but as far as the musical
goes he seems pretty clueless)
3.) Last but most certainly not least, he's ordinary. Raoul is
your average good-looking nice guy who appears in nearly every play, book, musical, movie and general romance since time began. Erik is unique, not only in appearance (again, I'm understating) but in character and accomplishments. He's the prime example of how sensuallity and physical appearance don't always go hand in hand. Give me talented, graceful, romantic and ugly over handsome and dull any day.
I'm through kveching now. Thanks for the opportunity to get
this off my chest."
"I find that even though Raoul is impressive (good-looking, rich, etc.), he doesn't seem to have genuine love for Christine as he almost mocks her about her encounters with The Angel of Music and in the latter part of the play he forces her to perform his Don Juan Triumphant, which she didn't want to do. He is whiney, and simply does not fight for Christine - he begs. He is not understanding when Christine wants to keep their engagement a secret and he jumps to the conclusion that Christine loves him due to the time that they spent together as children. "He was bound to love you, when he heard you sing...." Erik was right, even if Raoul had feelings for Christine it was nothing more than admiration for her voice."
(Contributed 03/10/99)
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